TUSAL... and WIP's

It's TUSAL time again.....

The suitcase on the left is my ORTs collection so far this year... and the ones on the right are for the last month.  Can you see that gorgeous pile of purple ORTs on top?  Aren't they adorable?

Here they are stitched up.....

I am using this gorgeous variegated thread for the new Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL.  The colour is called "Heliotrope" and it is a blend of blue, purple and pink - just stunning and perfect for this design!  The thread is from an Australian hand-dyed thread company called Cottage Garden Threads.  I bought a few of these threads when I went to the craft show recently - I have seen them a couple of times at the craft show but this year was the first time that I actually managed to remember to go and buy some.  Serendipity!

I started this new SAL on Saturday afternoon and I have almost finished 6 of the 12 circles.  My plan is to stitch all the circles in "Heliotrope" and then I will decide what I am going to do with the twiddly bits around the edge of the circles... I just want to make sure I have enough thread to completely stitch the main part of the circles before doing anything else!!

The fabric I am using is "Silver Springs" 32ct Jobelan from Colour Cascades Fabrics.  I should have ironed this before taking a pic... oops!  The colour of the fabric doesn't show up too well in the photo...  Hopefully when it's finished I will be able to get a good photo of it all.

That's me done for now.... I am going back to the couch and stitching!  I am still recuperating from my gallbladder removal operation last Monday.

This was me last Monday night (27/6) trying to stitch.... I had 2 cannula's in my left hand and I couldn't move very much but I did manage to get some stitches into that piece.  And as you know it is now finished... I tried to return to work yesterday, but after being in the office for an hour or so it became very obvious that it wasn't sustainable for me to sit at work all day... so I went home at lunchtime.  Today and tomorrow I plan to stay home and do some work from home and then I will see how I am tracking for Thursday and Friday.

I am way behind on my blog reading and email answering.... I will try and catch up on everything over the next week or so - but no promises!  Thank you all for your lovely comments on all my posts.  Take care... talk soon!

Til next time, happy stitching
Hugs xx


What is a TUSAL and an ORT Report??
Essentially TUSAL posts are all about stitching and saving our ORT's (Old Raggety Threads) and every New Moon those of us participating in the TUSAL post a picture of our ORT's, and then leave little msgs for Daffycat on her blog to show that we have been stitching and have posted our wonderful pics. 
Next New Moon - 3 August 2016

The Alphabet Club - Detention for Letter "L"

"They only met online, but it changed their lives forever"

It's time for "The Alphabet Club" (TAC)

Lair/Lairy: a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behaviour, to dress up in flashy clothes, to renovate or dress up something in bad taste (it's a bit lairy!)
Larrikin: a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Lend of, to have a: to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you") 
Lingo: language
Lizard drinking, flat out like a: flat out, busy
Lob, lob in: drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed") 
Local rag: local newspaper
Lollies: sweets, candy
Longneck: 750ml bottle of beer in South Australia
Lucky Country, The: Australia, where else?

Now there is only one food that springs to mind when you think of Aussie foods beginning with "L" - Lamingtons!!!

These scrummy cakes are pieces of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut... plain and simple!  Although these days they are being changed to be red, green or yellow instead of chocolate and sometimes are cut in half and filled with jam and cream.  Nothing beats the classic plain lamington though.

There is some confusion about exactly how it was discovered but most of the stories tend to agree it was named for Lord Lamington (Governor of Queensland) and that it was invented either by accident, or design, by his chef or maidservant in the late 1890's/early 1900's.  It doesn't really matter... they taste just the same now matter how they came about!!

So that's it for my very late post of the Alphabet Club!

Hooroo for now!  Happy Stitching!
Hugs xx



If you would like to join in the fun of "The Alphabet Club", pop over to Chiara's blog (The Grey Tail) to see what all the fun is about and link up your post for the Letter "L".  Posting is generally the first Saturday of the month.

Whine and WIP's update

June is done and dusted... July has begun so it's time for me to show you the rest of the WIPs that I worked on during June for the Stitch Maynia "Whine and WIPs" SAL.

My last WIP update post was on 18th June where I showed you my "Witch and Friends" finish as well as an update on "Jingles" and "Prancer.  My Smalls post that I posted on Friday showed you the 4 x June starts and finishes, but there were also lots of other stitching going on as well during June.

So here goes....

Nora Corbett's Christmas Eve Couriers - Prancer
as at 17 June 2016

as at 26 June 2016

Prancer is now ready for beading.... and then he will be finished!

The Little Stitcher - Red Christmas Deer
as at 21 April 2015

as at 19 June 2016

I am using waste canvas on an Ikea tea towel for this one....

Faces of Joan Elliott - Holly Fairy
as at 6 June 2016

as at 23 June 2016

Managed to stitch a little bit more of her hair,,,,

Mirabilia / Nora Corbett - Queen of Peace

as at 31 May 2016

as at 24 June 2016

"Queen of Peace" was my "Pretty In Pink" piece for the colour-a-day SAL on 24th June and I managed to get quite a bit of the pink in the bouquet stitched.  I have stitched some more of her ribbon but forgot to take a photo....

Nora Corbett "Queen Anne's Lace"
as at 9th April 2016

as at 30th June 2016

So that's it for my WIP update.  I do have another 2 starts for June to show but I will leave them for another post.

Til next time... happy stitching
Hugs xx

June SAL Updates.... July Stitching Goals....

web image

Hello! Another month has flown by and now we are into July, so it's time to do a SAL update post.

June SAL Update:

**JCS SAL (FB Group): "Joyful Santa" (Designer: Homespun Elegance)  ✓

**Christmas Ornie SAL Blog - Theme: Christmas Animals/Pets - Penguin Christmas Card (free gift)  ✓

**Halloween Ornie SAL Blog - Theme: Free Choice - "Witch and Friends" (Designer: Donna Giampa/Vermillion Stitching)  ✓

**Lainey's Christmas Ornie SAL: posted ✓
**Smalls SAL: posted ✓

**Stitch Maynia (FB group)
Monthly SAL's:
Monthly SAL: "Whine & WIPs" - work on those pieces that make us whine!:  ✓
Stitched on multiple WIPs - even managed to get a finish!

Colour-A-Day SAL (24th of month) "Pretty in Pink"   ✓
Stitched on Nora Corbett's Queen of Peace - pink flowers in the bouquet

Year Long SAL's:
Year of Starts! (at least 1 start/finish each month): ✓
I had 4 starts and finishes in June

Brooke's Books Year Long SAL: no progress on the Advent Animals....
2016 Chatelaine Shenanigans SAL: stitched on Mini Mandala II (C)  ✓

**Cross Stitch Finish Line (FB group) 

"Vintage SAL" - started 4 vintage/old designs - finished 3!

"Summer Solstice" (June to Sept) - started "June" Joyful World SAL - Snowflower Diaries

"Now I know my ABC's" (A) - using ABC Chats as my design choice for this one - "A" already stitched
"June Monthly "Month" SAL" - started "June" Joyful World SAL - Snowflower Diaries

**Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge 2016 (DUCJC2016):

Modified to 31 starts & finishes 2016: as at the end of June I have 25 finishes for 2016 of which 20 are new starts for 2016 ✓

**Miribilia, Nora Corbett Designs SAL: (Nora Corbett Passions FB group) - stitching on Queen Anne's Lace and Queen of Peace where they fit in with each weekly SAL theme.

July SAL Plans:

**JCS SAL (FB Group): "Pure Love" (Designer: Snowflower Diaries)

**Christmas Ornie SAL Blog July Theme: Free choice

**Halloween Ornie SAL Blog July Theme: Witches Accessories

**Stitch Maynia (FB group) 

"It's a Sunshine Day (month long) - stitch on any piece that has a summery, sunshine, or tropical theme)

"Colour-A-Day SAL" - "Back in Black" - work only on the black sections of a design on 24th July

"Winter Holidays in July" - celebrate Holidays/Christmas in July - 25th July

**Cross Stitch, it's Fun (FB group) 

"July Monthly SAL - stitch 100 stitches per week on your most challenging piece

"Around the World" SAL - stitch on any design relating to where you live or where you would like to visit

**Cross Stitch Finish Line (FB group) 

"Monthly "Month" SAL - July " - stitch on something with July in it and/or something that has to do with July

"Mill Hill SAL" - stitch on any Mill Hill kit/design

"Christmas in July" - get a head start on Christmas cards and/or ornies

"Now I know my ABC's" 26th July - "B"

"Summer Solstice" - (June to Sept): stitch any summer piece you want through to Autumn Solstice (Northern Hemisphere Solstice)

**Miribilia, Nora Corbett Designs SAL: (Nora Corbett Passions FB group) 

**Remember to post for:

Lainey's Christmas Ornie SAL

Smalls SAL

**Lakeside Needlecraft / Durene Jones Fantasy SAL
I have also joined another monthly SAL.... this one is being hosted by Lakeside Needlecraft in the UK and is designed by Durene Jones.  It is a monthly fantasy SAL starting in July with the border release.  I had to join it as the border colours are gorgeous and I do love Durene's designs... so what's a girl to do!!

So that's it... another good month of ticks on my monthly goals....

Til next time...

Take care and happy stitching

Hugs xx

Smalls SAL June 2016

Hosted by Stitching Lotus

And before we know it.... another month has gone by!  June's Smalls posting day was 30th June but as you can see I am a little bit late posting (it is probably still 30th June somewhere in the world though!)

I have quite a few smalls this month to show you... much better than last month's effort!!

Earlier this month I showed you my finishes #17 & #18.  I finished these 2 after posting May's Smalls penguin card update... so here's a recap of them:

Finish #17: Mosey n Me - Christmas Test Drive
Finished 27 May 2016

Finish #18: Penguin Christmas Card (freebie)
Finished 29 May 2016

Now onto June's Smalls...  these are all June starts and finishes :o)

Finish #22
Tartan Stocking Decoration
Free gift - UK Cross Stitcher magazine December 1995 issue

Started 26 June 2016
Finished 26 June 2016

Finish #23
Punched Needlepoint Christmas Card
Free gift - UK Needlecraft magazine December 1992

Started 26 June 2016
Finished 26 June 2016

Finish #24
Noel Decoration
Free gift - UK Cross Stitcher magazine Christmas 1996

Started 26 June 2016
Finished 28 June 2016

Finish #25
"Joyful Santa" - Homespun Elegance
Just Cross Stitch - Christmas 2015 issue

"Joyful Santa" - Designer: Homespun Elegance
Started 19 June 2016
Finished 29 June 2016

Stitched on Sugar Cane Crunch (Stitches & Spice) 28ct linen using the called for DMC threads.  I am hoping to finish this one off as flat fold in the next few days.

So that's it for my June Smalls update... not a bad effort even if I do say so myself :o)

I have a number of WIP updates to show you so I will be back soon with an update post.

Til then, happy Smalls stitching...
Hugs xx